so much washing ... #214

It may be holidays for some of us ... but others have to work to keep us clean ... the laundry pick up in Lambton Quay

Arriving @ Wellington Airport ... #213

Flying in from the south to land at Wellington Airport .. beginning of runway at right hand side of photo

Drama Cloud ... #212

Looking north along Thorndon Quay towards the Westpac Stadium .. very unusual clouds for Wellington ... with its gentle breezes ... YEAG RIGHT

M2M ... #211

M2M ... Man to Man's new story in Victoria Street ... refurbished upstairs for men and downstairs for the ladies ... very cool & tasteful .. well done team .... and still one of my favourite stores in Wellington

SALE SALE SALE ... #210

Oh yes ... it has already started .. trying to extract the last dollar from the pocket.

Chill Out Day ... #209

Well it's all over for another year .. and now we just have to prepare for the Boxing Day sales !!!!. Woodward Street looking towards Midland Park

Christmas Day

Yellow Wrapping... #207

... a neatly wrapped present in Tory Street. Some more apartments under construction ... the only thing missing is the red ribbon.

The 12 pubs of Christmas ... #206

Theses two well dressed guys, photographed at Midland Park, were on the " 12 Pubs of Christmas" tour yesterday. The Occidental, Black Harp, D4, Bull & Bear, Lovelocks, Mac's Brewery, Big Kumera, Hope Bros, Molly Malones, The Establishment, Base Bar .. and finally the Cambridge.

It was an awesome summers day in Wellington ... sunny and no wind .. everyone doing last minute shopping .. cafe crusin' ... beach and barbecues ... not bad for a little country somewhere in the South Pacific.

Jacka trimmed .... #213

Trimming around "Jacka"'s statue outside the State Services Commission building in Molesworth Street. On the fine days the pigeons turn his hair streaky grey !! and on the wet days it returns to black. The interesting part of this statue is the classic 60s black business shoes.

Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ (11 February 1904 - 8 December 1983) was a New Zealand politician. He was National Party Prime Minister from 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957, then again from 12 December 1960 to 7 February 1972. He was Governor-General of New Zealand from 1977 to 1980. Holyoake was the third longest-serving New Zealand Prime Minister (just under 12 years), surpassed only by Richard Seddon's 13 years and William Massey's close to 13 years. He was known for his diplomatic style and "plummy" voice. He was also fondly (or mockingly) known as Kiwi Keith, a name given to him in childhood.

Cello Help ... #212

Cellist David Chickering takes to the streets of Wellington to raise money for a fellow musician from the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra, whose instrument was destroyed in a terrorism raid.

The Iraqi cellist, known as Tariq, needs $6300 to replace his cello, which was bashed in by an armed mob that attacked his Baghdad home and kidnapped his father. Chickering, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's principal cellist, said he made contact with the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra after reading news stories about its plight. Members must practise under armed guard, battling blackouts and constant defections as musicians flee the fighting.

They are running out of reeds and strings, and few music stores remained open in Iraq, as they are a bombing target for militant Islamists.The Iraqi national symphony's librarian told Chickering what had happened to Tariq, so he decided to try to raise some money.Chickering and New Zealand National Youth Orchestra cellist Alexandra Partridge played for Christmas shoppers yesterday in Lambton Quay, raising $180 in two hours.

THANKS to the DOMINIONPOST for the text

Graduation ... #211

The culmination of hard work over a number of years ... and a chance to dress up and celebrate with friends and family. Victoria University is Wellington's oldest University and the main campus is located in Kelburn .. at the top of the cable car, overlooking thye City .. something to do with "higher" learning I think.

Over the last few years the campus has spread its way into a number of inner city buildings ... and this has definitely added to the vibrancy of the cityscape. The upper levels of the Wellington Railway Station building are now home to the University as is the Old Government Building ... cream building on the left hand side

What is delightful about this photo is the ethnic mix of the students .. chineese, japanese, samoan, tongan and some of us pakehas as well .. and they are all looking releived and proud of their achievements. Wellington icons ... the Beehive and the ubiquitous cabbage trees are evident.

Grand Head ... #210

Terry Stringer is a leading New Zealand sculptor. His signature works have become synonymous with high profile public sites throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand, including The Risen Christ in Christchurch's Cathedral Square, his Grand Head in Wellington which is in Victoria Street in front of the Te Renco building opposite the Lido Cafe. He has also completed The World Grasped for Newmarket, Auckland.

He trained at Elam School of Fine Arts graduating with Honours in 1967 and in the following years received virtually every significant scholarship and award available to New Zealand artists. In the late 1970s he was awarded the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Scholarship three times. He is a key figure in the history of art in New Zealand, a sculptor with an established reputation. This was acknowledged in 2003 when he was the recipient of the country's national honour, the ONZM (Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit).
In addition to public and private sculpture commissions, Terry Stringer has been involved in various theatrical projects. Downstage Theatre, Wellington commissioned him to design sets and costumes for Cabaret, and the Royal New Zealand Ballet for Images of Desire.

Throughout his career Stringer has exhibited extensively, with solo shows in Auckland, Sydney, Los Angeles and London. He lives and works at his sculpture park Zealandia, north of Auckland. "From the window of my studio the craggy island of Little Barrier sits across the horizon. My neighbours say its outline is Queen Victoria lying in state. In identifying this, the eye reads the range of hills as a narrative form, instead of merely a blue misty shape.This relates to the intellectual process of an artist. To make the human image the subject in an art work is to use that part of the brain that assesses the most subtle of signals. We have this specialised skill, and we delight in exercising it in the game of art, where the personality of a figure and the particulars of its situation can tell a detailed story."

Sculpture in the Gardens has given Stringer the incentive to work on a monumental scale, it is also a chance for him to enlarge on an idea he has previously had and to present it to a wide community.
His bronze sculpture contains column elements that carry different image fragments. Walk around the sculpture to see for yourself Stringer’s idea for the work - a subject that changes from one side of the sculpture to the other.

Vodafone on the Park ... #209

The Vodafone sign under repair ... a great job if you love being well above terra firma!!. This building that fronts onto Midland Park ... started life as Mobil on the Park when the oil company had naming rights ... it is now the Vodafone building. This photo was taken from McGinnity Street .. the small elbow shaped street that where the Wellesley Club is located

Opera Mural ... #208

Often walked passed .. rarely looked at. The western side of the Opera House as seen from Opera House Lane which runs between Manners Street and Wakefield Street. A dimmly lit lane that we rush down when late for the theatre and afterwards when in a hurry to get to the car.

The Opera House has been a social and entertainment venue for successive generations in Wellington. It has housed a variety of events including Opera, Drama, Public Meetings, Concerts and Ballets. Originally known as the Grand Opera House, it was designed by Melbourne Architect William Pitt and supervised by Architect Albert Liddy. Opening day was Easter Saturday in 1914.
At the time it was one of the largest proscenium arch theatres of its kind in Australasia. Due to its lavishly decorated public room and auditorium with a domed ceiling, circle, marble staircase and grand circle together with two tiers of boxes, it is an icon of early 1900s architecture.
The building has been classified as an Historic Building by the Historic Places Trust of New Zealand and awarded an "A" classification.
It is constructed of double capacity brick walls two feet thick and jarrah floors. It has a bigger stage than the Sydney Opera house and even London's West End has only two stages that are larger. Being an older theatre, the Opera House is also said to house three ghosts - old friends from the past. Since 2001, the theatre auditorium and foyers have been been refurbished and the ground and 1st floors given new seats. Backstage, a manual counterweight flying system with 87 lines was installed in 2005.

Christmas is Coming ... #207

No snow in this part of the world ... the weather is warm & sunny ... everyone is busy busy busy and all the usual Christmas activities are in full swing ... the Carol buskers ... the strawberry and cherry sellers .. Vanessa the present wrapper ... and the Christmas tree carriers .. our little Red Rudolph and a green pine tree!!

"virtual" bouy ... #206

The background is Wellington Harbour looking from Taranaki Wharf across to Eastbourne ... the foreground is ... well ... a nice white cabinet that is NOT FOR USE in an emergency. Only excellent swimmers in the water, please.

Emergency Bus ... #205

A bus stop right in the heart of Lambton Quay ... "The Golden Mile" ... because the rental per square metre for retail space is the highest in Wellington. Here is an option for those that wish to take the bus ...solo with natural airconditioning.

Have a great weekend

Afternoon Tea .. #204

School is finished for the day ... afternoon snack outside the State Services Commission Building in Molesworth Street ... the heart of the Government Agencies district... 3 public service workers per square metre ... !!

Legal Reinforcement .... #203

The Supreme Court sits in Wellington. The Court is to get a new $67millon home to be built beside, and to expand into the historic High Court building, located near Parliament, although the court is being housed in temporary facilities while the new building is built and the High Court building refurbished. This is the early stages of construction ... the fabrication of the steel reinforcement ... although the construction worker appears extremely strong .. he is actually guiding the steelwork that is being lifted by a crane.

To the left of the photo is the Old Government Building, now part of the Victoria University Law School. The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court in the land and the court of last resort in New Zealand, having formally come into existence at the beginning of 2004, and sitting for the first time on July 1, 2004. It controversially replaced the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, based in London. It was created with the passing of the Supreme Court Act 2003, on October 15, 2003.

It is no relation to the "old" Supreme Court, which was renamed in 1980 (as the result of a Royal Commission recommendation) as the High Court in anticipation of the creation of a court like the one that now bears its former name.

Controversy
Although proposals for an indigenous final appellate court can be traced back to 1985, the creation of the Supreme Court was controversial. The Supreme Court Act 2003 was passed by a relatively small margin - the governing Labour and Progressive parties, supported by the Greens, voted in favour, while the National, New Zealand First, ACT, and United Future parties voted against.

Referendum
After the Opposition parties unsuccessfully called for a national referendum on the matter, they launched a petition for a non-binding referendum of their own. However, the petition failed to gain the 310,000 signatures needed. The legal profession in general were opposed to the creation of the new court, and members were generally concerned that such an important legal change was forced through in the face of heated opposition.

Appointments
One issue that was particularly contentious as the Bill was being debated in Parliament was the appointment of judges to the Court, with opposition parties claiming that the Attorney-General, Labour's Margaret Wilson, would make partisan choices. These concerns were because the entire bench was to be appointed simultaneously, and no clear statement had been made about how they would be selected. However, the level of concern was considerably lessened when Wilson announced that the appointments would be based on merit and seniority. Nevertheless, the issue of appointments still lingers; while the appointment of Justice McGrath was expected and unsurprising (McGrath and Anderson being the most senior judge on the Court of Appeal at the time of their appointments) whether future appointment will follow the same pattern remains unclear

Graphic ... #202

Walking south up Taranaki Street ... "ain't no disco"

The National Library ... #201

The National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa in Maori) is New Zealand's legal deposit library and a public service department, charged with the obligation to 'enrich the cultural and economic life of New Zealand and its interchanges with other nations' (National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Mātauranga) Act 2003). Under the Act, the library is also expected to be:
'collecting, preserving, and protecting documents, particularly those relating to New Zealand, and making them accessible for all the people of New Zealand, in a manner consistent with their status as documentary heritage and taonga; and
'supplementing and furthering the work of other libraries in New Zealand; and
'working collaboratively with other institutions having similar purposes, including those forming part of the international library community.'
It is said to be unique, as unlike many other national libraries it is an autonomous government department. The library also has links to primary and secondary schools through its School Services business unit, which has 15 service centres and 3 Curriculum Information Service branches around New Zealand. The Legal Deposit Office is also New Zealand's agency for ISBN and ISSN.
The library headquarters is close to the New Zealand Parliament and the Court of Appeal on the corner of Aitken and Molesworth Streets, Wellington.

Uraban Fitness Concepts... #200

Fitness in the city ... with your personal trainers. While everyone else is sipping their latte and reading the morning paper .. these guys and one young lady were being put through their routine at Midland Park .. using the urban environment as their gym.

Impressive for a Saturday morning

Winged Reindeer ... #199

Variant #1:
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year (the only members of the deer family, Cervidae, to have females do so), male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolf to Blitzen ... had to be a female. We should've known this when they were able to find their way.

Variant #2:
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer, however, retain their antlers until after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen..... had to be a female. We should have known this.... Only women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night, and not get lost.

... well I suppose they did really have to have wings to be able to fly !! ... but these are actually two friendly young ladies taking part in a Capital teasure hunt !!

Government House ... #198

Government House in Wellington is a large, two-storied house, built mostly of wood, with attics, a grand staircase, a ballroom, dozens of other large and small rooms, very long corridors and a flag tower. It is the official residence of the Governor-General, but it also contains offices, and is used frequently for receptions of many kinds.

Each year, there are usually over 15,000 visitors to the House, invited to one or more of the many functions in the House. These in-House events range from investitures and diplomatic receptions, to conferences, concerts, exhibitions and community morning teas. In addition, members of the Royal Family, Heads of State and other distinguished guests often stay at the House when they are visiting New Zealand.

The House was designed in the office of the Government Architect, John Campbell, the designer of Parliament Buildings, principally by his assistant, Claude Paton. It was built between 1908 and 1910.
Government House has eleven bedrooms and two large suites (there are 27 bedrooms and 19 bathrooms in total, including the staff quarters), as well as a ballroom, sitting rooms, service rooms and a wing of offices. The House is approximately 4,200 m2 (45,000 sq. ft.).

Lyall Bay ... #197

Lyall Bay at the southern end of the city and the bottom of the North Island. Well known as a surf beach and home to the Maranui Surf Livesaving Club. to the left of the photo is Wellington Airport .. to the right and 3 hours sailing away is the South Island (Picton) .. that is one of the Interislander ferry boats on the return journey to Wellington. This is a calm day with small neat waves breaking .. just right for surfing and sailboard learning .. as you can see ... and NO she is not checking if he used any deoderant this morning !!

The Tramways ... #196

A character Wellington hotel ... the Tramways Hotel on Adelaide Road has a colourful history. It was former Prime Minister Norman Kirk’s base when he was the leader of the Opposition. In the 1980s it was the location of a high profile gang murder investigation. Among its past owners was Brian Le Gros, best known as the founder of Wellington’s Liks strip club and the Whitehouse in Auckland. When the crowds walked back from major rugby ganes at Athletic Park (before the Westpac Stadium was built) the young ladies in hot pants and singlet tops would be promoting the strip show for that night.

The hotel is currently for sale and has a capital valuation of NZD929,000

some PC green ... #195

A Professionally Cut lawn ... continuing the theme from yesterday .. the grass in front of Parliament is trimmed and maintained to perfection. In front of the building you can see the cabbage trees featured in yesterday's photo ... and in front of the flagpole wall are some 'barricades' that get draggeed out during protests or other gatherings in front of Parliament. Directly behind the lawn mower on the lawn mower! is the Parliamentary Library

Political Cabbage ... #194

Some PC PC for Monday morning ... Politically Correct Parliamentary Cabbage ... and maybe thats "the language they speak !!". Refer to the earlier posting on The Cabbage Tree

23 ... #193

Any number, so long as it's 23

There were no dazzling free kicks, but David Beckham did score from the penalty spot as the LA Galaxy beat the Wellington Phoenix 4-1 in an exhibition football match at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night... and he played the full 90 mins ... the crowd loved it ... on a calm warm summer evening ... another magic moment in the history of this little capital city !!!

Beckham was the provider of the Galaxy's first goal, launching a pin-point 50m pass that set up striker Clint Mathis to score in the 16th minute, and topped off the scoring with a 77th minute penalty after striker Carlos Pavon was brought in the box by defender Steven Old.

Beckham showed the odd bit of class as the match progressed with some deft touches and masterful long-range passing as the Galaxy won in a canter. After Phoenix skipper Ross Aloisi had set the 31,853-strong crowd, eclipsing the 1981 All Whites-Kuwait World Cup qualifier as a record for any football match in New Zealand, alight with an eighth minute strike from close range, the Galaxy took over dominance of the match.

Mathis' equaliser and a second goal just before halftime, to star forward Landon Donovan, who took full advantage of some keystone cops defending after Karl Dodd and Kristian Rees tackled each other, gave the Major League Soccer team a 2-1 halftime lead. They made it 3-1 early in the second half, an incisive but rare midfield run by Beckham ending in a simple tap-in by Pavon, with the Phoenix's wafer thin back three opened up yet again, before Beckham brought the house down with his penalty, which never looked like missing.

There was some niggle in the first half, with the players clashing several times and Beckham - much to the crowd's pleasure - blew up at referee Michael Hester after being adjudged to have fouled Felipe in the 19th minute.

The Little Bridge that could ... #192

Now this unpretentious simple construction qualifies on all counts as a bridge. I cross it every morning and evening when I walk to catch the train for the 10 minute ride into the centre of the city and back home again. It allows pedestrians to cross over an obstacle ... a small stream. Its age is unkown ... It hasn't won any awards ... It didn't cost mega dollars to construct and it probably never had an official opening ... it serves its purpose well and to the extent that most users wouldn't remember crossing it.

HOWEVER THIS BRIDGE RIGHTLY DESERVES ITS PLACE IN THE DAILY PHOTO THEME DAY. well done Little Bridge.

Definitions of a Bridge:
A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, railroad track, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle. Designs may be built higher than otherwise needed in order to allow other traffic (particularly ship traffic) beneath.

A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, railroad track, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle. Designs of bridges will vary depending on the function of the bridge and the nature of the terrain where the bridge is to be constructed.

The Oxford English Dictionary traces the origin of the word bridge to an Old English word brycg, of the same meaning, derived from a hypothetical Proto-Germanic root brugjō. There are cognates in other Germanic languages (for instance Brücke in German, brug in Dutch, brúgv in Faroese or bro in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish). Another theory suggests that "bridge" comes from Turkish "köprü" (lit. bridge). It is highly possible that Turkish lent this word to Eastern European languages and then, in time, it arrived in English. "Köprü" itself is derived from "köprük (köpük)" which literally means "foam". The word for the Pope, pontiff, comes from the Latin word pontifex meaning "bridge builder" or simply just "builder". The word "Pope" however comes from "papa" meaning "father".

PARTICIPANTS IN THE DECEMBER THEME DAY
Boston (MA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Portland (OR), USA - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Inverness (IL), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Stockholm, Sweden - Setúbal, Portugal - Brussels, Belgium - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Hyde, UK - Manila, Philippines - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - London, England - Austin (TX), USA - Toulouse, France - Weston (FL), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Selma (AL), USA - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - North Bay (ON), Canada - Arradon, France - Paderborn, Germany - Durban, South Africa - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Portland (OR), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Wichita (Ks), USA - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Grenoble, France - New York City (NY), USA - Nottingham, UK - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Arlington (VA), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Cheltenham, UK - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Saratoga Spgs. (NY), USA - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Nashville (TN), USA - Toruń, Poland - New Orleans (LA), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Melbourne, Australia - Moscow, Russia - Trujillo, Peru - Château-Gontier, France - Quincy (MA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Joplin (MO), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Brookville (OH), USA - Chateaubriant, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Baziège, France - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Detroit (MI), USA - Riga, Latvia - Nelson, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Cape Town, South Africa - Sydney, Australia - Dunedin (FL), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Radonvilliers, France - Turin, Italy - Montpellier, France - Kansas City (MO), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Wailea (HI), USA - Lubbock (TX), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Terrell (TX), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Budapest, Hungary - Montréal (QC), Canada - Sharon (CT), USA - Le Guilvinec, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - London, UK - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Orlando (FL), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Paris, France - Mainz, Germany - Newcastle (NSW), Australia - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Darmstadt, Germany - Naples (FL), USA - Torino, Italy - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Bogor, Indonesia

Wellywood Backpackers ... #191

The distinctive zebra painted building in Tory Street Wellington makes an easily recognisable landmark, and is the home of Wellywood Backpackers.

Wellywood Backpackers is a place to stay when looking for value-for-money accommodation in New Zealand’s cultural and entertainment capital - Wellington.

Theaters, cinemas, public transport, Te Papa Museum, café’s, and of course, Wellington’s vibrant night-life are all within a ten minute walk.
At Wellywood Backpackers, we believe that staying in ‘budget accommodation’ shouldn’t mean having to lose some of those simple pleasures in life.
The backpackers has FREE High-Speed Internet, Spa Pool, TV Lounges, and many other amenities. They also provide a comprehensive fire, and integrated security system, including an all night security manager.

"With the ability to cater to the individual traveller looking to explore Wellington’s many unique attractions, as well as providing spacious rooms for school groups, sports groups, work groups, or just if you’re in town with a group of friends, let us share with you both our ‘home’ and our passion for our beautiful city."

Oriental Evening ... #190

The eastern end of Oriental Bay looking across the Harbour towards the Hutt Motorway which is below the hills on the horizon. This photo was taken at 7:30pm last night ... people were out walking, running, cycling while we sat in the evening sun and ate our dinner .. fish & chips and hamburgers.

Swimming in the shallow (30cm) water in front of the man reading a book and with his legs resting on the wall, was a stingray... about 1 metre from wingtip to wingtip.

Another magic evening in the capital city of that great little country somewhere in the South Pacific !!

Compassion ... #189

The Suzanne Aubert Compassion Centre is in Central Wellington, not far from where the first soup kitchen in Buckle Street was established in 1899. From here the Sisters of Compassion are continuing to support the marginalised of our community by:
Providing meals
Friendship and hospitality
Spiritual ministry and fellowship
Being advocates for the disadvantaged
Visiting those in need
Bringing hope and dignity to those who ‘just survive’

Their Mission: To Know and Express the Compassion of Jesus Christ. The work of the Sisters is well supported by the local community. There is much volunteer input, co-operation with local authorities and other help agencies. The Centre has no predictable income, and is reliant on the generosity of those who share its philosophy.

Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, who arrived in New Zealand as a missionary in 1860, is widely recognised as a determined and extraordinarily compassionate woman. A brief quotation from the New Zealand Dictionary of Biography seems apposite:-
“In 1899, in response to requests from medical men, Mother Aubert brought three sisters to Wellington to undertake sick visiting in the slums. By support from many quarters they were able to feed the needy by gifts, mostly in kind, for Wellington took them immediately to its heart. In 1900 they began to take in the most neglected, bedridden cases. Like all her works, this was gratuitous and undenominational. From this time, however, she relied only on benefactions inspired by Providence. “It is my bank and it has never failed me yet.” she said later. (Previously she and her helpers had had some Government aid or had sold produce or medicines.) A soup kitchen for unemployed men was opened, and in 1902 a day nursery, the first in Wellington. In 1907, with about 14 children from Jerusalem, she began at Island Bay a children's home and a residential nursery.”
It is in part thanks to her vision that more than 7,000 infants, children and young people were cared for in their early years by the Sisters of Compassion.

Flying Pieces ... #188

The practice of sending messages by homing pigeon during World War I is being rekindled in order to bring a billboard to Wellington. About 380 intrepid birds have been released gradually during the past fortnight from Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim, each carrying a piece of the billboard message rolled in a cylinder attached to its leg. The last 90 were let loose yesterday in the official ceremony - some by pre-schoolers. The billboard, which promotes the aviation centre, is believed to be the first in the world to be delivered in jigsaw pieces by carrier pigeon.

The puzzle is being put together this week with the last pieces being placed onThursday when Weta Workshop's Richard Taylor and three men dressed in World War I garb assemble the pieces on a billboard site at the corner of Dixon and Victoria streets. The weather today was hot and this guy in a heavy khaki WW1 uniform was sweatimnh it climbing up and down the ladder to place the pieces on the billboard

The heritage centre, whose collection is managed by a Peter Jackson-chaired trust, has one of the largest collections of World War I planes and memorabilia in the world. The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre promotes aviation history through its world-class collection of World War One fighter planes. Planes are displayed in life-like exhibits created by Weta Workshop. The Centre is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s best World War One aviation experiences.

Chief executive Jane Orphan said homing pigeons were used as a tribute to the vital role they played in wartime communications. More than 100,000 pigeons were used during the war with a 95 per cent success rate.

Prize Giving ... #187

This is the time for the end of year prize giving events for all the main colleges in Wellington. Many of them use the Wellington Town Hall which is a fine example of late Victorian municipal architecture, and is currently and historically an important building for the city of Wellington. The building is a landmark civic building, of which there are few comparable buildings in New Zealand. The night usually lasts about 3 hours with prize giving, speeches, cultural & musical performances. This one was for Wellington East Girls College

Sunday Bonus ... #186

As a bonus for Sunday ... here is one of some "young" people heading out for their Sunday activities. I met them at Bordeaux Bakery on Thorndon Quay where they had just completed their pre-training activities of coffee and pastries. They were all in the mood for some mid-day exercise with friends. keep it up team.

Political Pigeons ... #185

Political fodder ... and the sentiments of this poem perhaps say more about the transient nature of the political environment than the world of our feathered city dwellers.

Pigeons

They paddle with staccato feet
In powder-pools of sunlight,
Small blue busybodies
Strutting like fat gentlemen
With hands clasped
Under their swallowtail coats;
And, as they stump about,
Their heads like tiny hammers
Tap at imaginary nails
In non-existent walls.
Elusive ghosts of sunshine
Slither down the green gloss
Of their necks in an instant, and are gone.
Summer hangs drugged from sky to earth
In limpid fathoms of silence:
Only warm dark dimples of sound
Slide like slow bubbles
From the contented throats.
Raise a casual hand -
With one quick gust
They fountain into air.

Richard Kell

PL8 SPK ... #184

THS 1 SPKS 4 ITS SLF

Garden Island ... #183

The gardens on the traffic islands are going through their summer make over ... the gardners have been working the rotary hoes over the soil in preparation and today they are planting the new flowering varieties.... slowly working their way south along Lambton Quay ... and again we see the guardians of the gardens protected by the "guardians of the city" .. the ubiquitous safey cones.

Arlington ... #182

The Arlington Council flats and apartments in Hopper Street ... at the southern end of the city

Architectural sTutters ... #181

Light louvres ... sustainable arcitecture ... maintenance nightmare ... timber tower ... wooden wonder

The brief for an aesthetically stunning building using Environmentally Sustainable Design principles (ESD) was set early in 2004 by Wellington Waterfront Ltd for building designers Studio of Pacific Architecture. One of New Zealand’s largest electricity generators, Meridian Energy is a leader in sustainable development , as evidenced by its commitment to only using renewable sources of generation to meet the country’s growing energy demands. In December 2004, Meridian Energy identified the need for a larger premise, and initiated a project to develop office accommodation that met both its immediate and long-term operational needs and which reflected its commitment to renewable energy and sustainability. The Meridian Energy building planners have adopted the ESD principles as a means to ensure the building meets a range of sustainability considerations throughout its entire life cycle. Not only is a comfortable and productive working environment a prerequisite, but waste minimisation and a reduction in energy and water use have also been sought, along with the use of eco-friendly building products.

The four-storey (18 metre high) Meridian building’s L-shaped configuration is specifically intended to create a sheltered northwest facing Kumutoto plaza that will seamlessly connect to the Kumutoto Precinct via an enclosed thoroughfare. The lower floor (5.3 metres high) has been designed as a retail space, and is dominated by glass walls that provide uninterrupted views through the building to the harbour, or back towards the Kumutoto Plaza. The striking saw-tooth roof integrates the overall building with the surrounding structures on the wharf.

The designers’ efforts to optimise energy use and comfort all year round have included extensive use of natural light and ventilation, as well as insulation. Solar gains are controlled by active shading systems which use external louvres and interstitial blinds within glazed facades, while photo sensors control the blinds and motorised louvres. The air supply is sourced entirely from outdoors, meaning the primary ventilation is provided by natural means. These innovative features are integrated into an overall passive design through the thermal mass properties of the building’s concrete shear wall core and other exposed concrete surfaces.

Friendly Attention ... #180

A disturbance of some nature at Frank Kitts Park on the waterfront ...that warrants a "once over" by the Police

End of the Day ... #179

The yacht marina at the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club at dusk on a "calm" Wellington evening.

The Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club was formed in 1883 and has been closely associated with Wellington yachting for over 100 years.In July 1993 the Club launched the Sailing Academy. As a fulltime professionally run sail training facility, it provides a unique resource to the Wellington region. The Academy operates out of premises 115 Oriental Parade (boat harbour, next to Freyberg Pool, city side) with the two training boats berthed at the door. This offers a step-on, step-off facility to maximise sailing time. The Academy also provides the specialist wet weather clothing for all participants.

Karamu St ... #178

Photo taken looking south to the entrance to Karamu Street, Ngaio where I live. The abundance of trees and "green" is clearly evident. Also note that most of the house are timber construction ... and no double glazing !. The city is over to the left of the frame.

Thoughtful Observation ... #177

An awsome magic Wellington Day ... sun, light breeze ... WOW.
Contemplation and relaxation outside Mac Breweries Bar & Cafe on Taranaki Wharf. The New Zealand Stock Exchange and the post grid is just out of shot to the right.

Swim between the flags ... #176

... or in this case "chat between the posts" .. a couple enjoying each others company, the sun and fresh air on the waterfront .. oblivious to the world around them.

Hikoi ... #175

Following the arrival of the hikoi, about 400 mainly Maori protesters gathered at Parliament before marching down Lambton Quay to the Te Puni Kokiri offices where a haka was performed.
The crowd was calm and peaceful and there was a low-key police presence. The protesters - awash with flags and placards, some reading "stop racism" - then reassembled at Midland Park before returning to Parliament, where fireworks were let off.

A number of MPs spoke at the hikoi including Taito Phillip Field, Pita Sharples, Keith Locke and Labour's Parekura Horomia and Nanaia Mahuta. The two Labour MPs were booed by the crowd while embattled MP Taito Phillip Field was cheered after he told those in attendance he did not believe Tuhoe residents had been treated well.

The hikoi began last week in Ruatoki, Bay of Plenty, where police conducted their raids on "terror" suspects. But the protesters are a day too late to stop the Suppression of Terrorism Amendment Act, which passed its third reading by 108 votes to 13 late yesterday. Labour and National supported the legislation, while the Greens, ACT and the Maori Party opposed it.

The new law extends the power of the United Nations to designate terrorist entities that will also apply in New Zealand. It creates a new offence of committing a terrorist act, which is punishable by life in prison.
It also removes a defence of funding a terrorist entity if the donor was motivated by human rights or democratic concerns. After terrorism charges were rejected by Solicitor-General David Collins last week, the Government said it would ask the Law Commission to review the Arms Act and the Crimes Act as well to consider whether the police should have wider powers of interception to prosecute cases of alleged domestic terrorism, rather than rewrite the Terrorism Suppression Act.

Another Wicked Camper ... #174

Another Wicked Campervan captured at the Blue Bridge Ferry Terminal opposite the Railway Station .. this one is political commentary ... the other interesting one was the Beatle's Campervan